Hilal Assad, along with his seven fighters, has been killed in combat in the town on Kasab on the border with Turkey

Latakia, Syria

BEIRUT, March 24. /ITAR-TASS/. Head of regional militia of the National Defense Force Hilal Assad was killed in combat north of Latakia on Sunday, Latakia Governor Ahmad Sheikh Abdul-Kader told SANA News Agency.

The governor said that "the commander, renowned for his patriotism, has died a hero."

Hilal was the cousin of Bashar Assad, President of the Syrian Arab Republic. Hilal, along with his seven fighters, has been killed in the town on Kasab on the border with Turkey.

National Defense Force was organized in 2013 as semi-military units supporting the Syrian government army. In Latakia, these units consist mostly of Alawites. President Bashar Assad and his family are also Alawites.